Community Engagement Coordinator, Special Litigation

The Legal Aid Society • New York, NY

10d • $65,000 - $70,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice has an immediate opening for a passionate and dedicated Community Engagement Coordinator who will contribute to the Policy Unit of the Law Reform Team. The Policy Unit spearheads the Legal Aid Society’s policy and legislative initiatives on criminal legal issues at the state and city levels. It delivers expert testimony and analysis on proposed policies in conjunction with community-based organizations and peer-defender groups and advocates for legislative change. We seek an individual with personal experience of the criminal legal system who will bring essential perspectives to our work that are often overlooked in traditional policy-making circles. The Coordinator will contribute to our work on multiple campaigns by participating in coalition spaces, helping to organize advocacy days, scheduling meetings with elected officials, attending Community Board meetings, organizing and assembling advocacy day packets, providing input on legislative language, testifying before City Council, and working with Law Reform’s Community Justice Unit (CJU) to educate and connect with the community we serve. The Coordinator will be provided professional development opportunities, such as media training, public speaking, and legislative advocacy, to help champion our policy reform efforts. This position is funded by a temporary grant and the continuation of the position is dependent on funding availability. If funding for the position is not continued, the Community Engagement Coordinator will be eligible to apply for other internal positions or be transferred into a comparable position.

Requirements

• A combination of 2+ years of post-secondary education, work experience, or an equivalent of relevant lived experience, such as a period of incarceration.
• Demonstrated interest and experience in racial and social justice advocacy or criminal legal system reform.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and develop and maintain relationships with internal and external partners.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of movements to reform New York’s criminal legal system, including jails and prisons.
• Demonstration or performance of coalition building and community engagement work.
• Ability to successfully navigate public databases of state and local legislation as well as to reach lawmakers via their staff to schedule meetings and briefings.
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers.
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships.
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect.
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission and values.

Nice To Haves

• Some experience working on legislative and policy issues relating to criminal justice, or other issue-based coalition work including experience with public comments or testimony.
• Familiarity with the criminal legal system and the work of public defense organizations.
• Familiarity with current legislative campaigns and current failings of the criminal legal system.
• Experience working with community organizations, elected officials, and organizers.
• Ability to work within a team model.

Responsibilities

• Organize and expand both internal and external contact lists, schedule meetings and maintain contact with elected officials and community partners.
• Organize advocacy days and hearing testimony.
• Build out and deliver educational platforms on the legislative campaigns for the communities we serve.
• Participate in coalition spaces and work to build support for smaller legislative reform packages.
• Attend community board meetings to build out local support for criminal legal system reforms.
• Develop a sustained and effective method of communicating with New Yorkers who have been represented by our criminal practice in order to garner feedback and direction for current proposed reforms and those that should be proposed.
• Participate in continuous professional development.
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• health insurance
• paid vacation
• disability
• life insurance
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• State and Federal loan forgiveness programs
• assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments (for NY residents)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed